UPDATED: Deanna's Playhouse in foreclosure, seeking community financial support

Monday

Jan 20, 2014 at 3:57 PMJan 20, 2014 at 3:59 PM

Deanna’s Playhouse celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. It could be the last milestone for the nonprofit that offers parents and kids a place to go for educational play and information.

By Andrea.Goodell@HollandSentinel.com(616) 546-4275

Deanna’s Playhouse celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. It could be the last milestone for the nonprofit that offers parents and kids a place to go for educational play and information.

The Deanna’s Playhouse and Life Services System building at 11172 Adams St. is in foreclosure. In 2011, according to the latest data available, the nonprofit posted a $300,000 loss.

It all started with the loss of a million-dollar federal Parent Center grant in 2011 and has spiraled since then as the organizer’s board quietly spoke with corporations and other nonprofits looking for money to keep going, said Deanna DePree, who was once the executive director and now sits on the board on a volunteer basis. It rents space to a preschool and has sought out other tenants.

The center had been the designated Parent Information and Resource Center for Michigan since the early 1990s. Board members found out about the discontinuation of the grant program shortly before it happened in September, DePree said.

The grant accounted for the bulk of the nonprofit’s income. Last month, Deanna’s Playhouse/Life Service System went into default on the remaining $1.3 million mortgage with Macatawa Bank.

DePree admits the center has not promoted itself effectively in asking for community contributions. Until recently, it didn’t have to be.

“We probably should have asked for local money sooner,” she said.

The agency has gone to various businesses and granting organizations since 2011, looking to fill the gap.

“That has allowed us to continue going, but the debt on the building has really been crippling,” DePree said.

The nonprofit has until June 19 to find a solution. Essentially, the agency would have to make arrangements to get another mortgage, to buy back the building. Board members are looking to the community for ideas at a Jan. 29 meeting.

Life Services System began in Holland in 1983 with programs including transportation for the handicapped, school-to-work programs for special education students, AmeriCorps and VISTA in Ottawa County, Communities In Schools, Parents as Teachers for early childhood learning and Leaders for the 21st Century.

Deanna’s Playhouse began 20 years later in 2003 as a children’s recreation and educational play facility that serves more than 16,000 visitors last year.

“It’s a safe, clean place for the kids to play and the moms to get together,” said Lydia DeVries, who has three kids between 2 and 6 years old. “It would sure be a loss for the community. There isn’t anywhere like it.”

Danielle Campbell regularly brings her four kids, who are 8 months to 6 years old. They make new friends, make arts and crafts and build things.

“It would be horrible. We would be so sad. In the winter, this is my outlet,” said Campbell, a member of the clubhouse.

Families travel from outside Holland to use the center.

“We had a day off together … and decided to check this place out,” Jeff Sheppard said while standing on a stage, wearing a cape.

Sheppard couldn’t talk long. He had traveled from Grand Rapids with his two girls Sophia, 2, and Moriah, 5, who were adamant he act out a story.

The playhouse is really the aspect at risk, DePree said. Other functions could work out of a smaller, rented space, but the playhouse needs a large physical space for kids to play.

“We think we’ve been a community builder,” DePree said. “We just have to switch from federal funding to community support.”